MORRISTOWN, Tenn. — On Monday, the Tennessee Department of Education released scores to schools from the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program exams. Schools then shared some of the scores of the reading section of that standardized test with parents.
For third graders, their English Language Arts scores determine if they can advance to fourth grade, or if additional steps are needed. Kayla Williams said her daughter was devastated when she broke the news she would have to take a summer school class and have tutoring sessions as a fourth grader.
"She said, 'My summer is ruined because of this test. And I study so hard. And I listen to my teacher. And now I just feel like everything's taken from me,'" Williams said.
She said summer plans like Vacation Bible School and summer vacation are no longer in the cards for their family because their daughter must complete summer school.
Williams says her energetic and outgoing daughter has been anxious and overwhelmed about taking the TCAP test.
"It just broke her heart," Williams said. "It broke my heart. I mean, I just feel like no third-grader kid should be stressed out to the point where they don't want to go to school."